WEIZAC
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WEIZAC (Weizmann Automatic Computer) was the first computer in
It was built at the
As with all computers of its era, it was a one of a kind machine that could not exchange programs with other computers (even other IAS machines).[citation needed]
The beginning
The WEIZAC project was initiated by Prof.
In July 1947, an advisory committee for the Applied Mathematics Department discussed the plan to build the computer. Among the committee's members were Albert Einstein, who did not find the idea reasonable, and John von Neumann, who supported it. In one conversation, von Neumann was asked: "What will that tiny country do with an electric computer?" He responded: "Don’t worry about that problem. If nobody else uses the computer, Pekeris will use it full time!"[citation needed]
In the end, a decision was made to proceed with the plan. Chaim Weizmann assigned US$50,000 for the project (equivalent to $682,265 in 2023), which was 20% of the Weizmann Institute total budget.[citation needed]
In 1952, Gerald Estrin, a research engineer from the von Neumann project, was chosen to lead the project. He came to Israel along with his wife, Thelma, who was an electrical engineer and also involved in the project. They brought with them schematics, but no parts. Estrin later commented: "As I look back now, if we had systematically laid out a detailed plan of execution we would probably have aborted the project." After arriving, Estrin's impression was that besides Pekeris, other Israeli scientists thought it is ridiculous to build a computer in Israel.[citation needed]
To recruit skilled staff for the project, a newspaper advertisement was posted. Most of the applicants had no records of prior education because those were lost in the
Specifications
WEIZAC was an
In 1961, the memory was further expanded with two additional 4,096 word modules.[citation needed]
Usage
In late 1955, WEIZAC performed its first calculation.
WEIZAC was kept constantly busy, and users (especially from other institutions) became increasingly frustrated with not being able to get computing time, and demanded more computers to become available. WEIZAC's success led to the recognition of the demand for computers and digital technology in Israel, and ultimately, provided the foundation for Israel's computer and technology industries.[2]
After WEIZAC
Until 1961, WEIZAC was the only computer in the State of Israel. It operated until 29 December 1963 and was replaced by a commercially-built computer, a CDC 1604A. At the same time the institute's staff began constructing the locally designed GOLEM – based on the ILLIAC II architecture, but with several improvements which resulted in significantly-reduced volume and power consumption.[citation needed]
Recognition
On 5 December 2006, WEIZAC was recognized by the
References
- ^ "Computer Studies - News, Features and Discoveries from the Weizmann Institute of Science". Weizmann Wonder Wander. 2015-08-30. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ IEEE. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ le-madaʻ, Mekhon Ṿaitsman (1962). Scientific Activities. The Institute. p. 19.
- S2CID 1212549.
- IEEE. Retrieved 2010-03-25
Bibliography
- The WEIZAC Years (1954-1963), Gerald Estrin, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 317–339, Oct-Dec 1991. ISSN 1058-6180.
- Corry, Leo, Raya Leviathan (2019). WEIZAC: An Israeli Pioneering Adventure in Electronic Computing (1945–1963). New York: Springer Verlag.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Corry, Leo, Raya Leviathan (2023). Chaim L. Pekeris and the Art of Applying Mathematics with WEIZAC (1955–1963). New York: Springer Verlag.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
- Weizmann Institute Computer Studies – With a historical overview including the WEIZAC.
- IEEE History Center: WEIZAC Computer, 1955
- Remembering WEIZAC: the beginning of computing in Israel, in Google's official blog
- WEIZAC: Israel's first computer – Prof. Aviezri Fraenkel recounts WEIZAC's beginning (video)